Oct. 16, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – After a rousing start against SEC foe Kentucky last week, the University of South Carolina swimming & diving team faces another stiff challenge this week as they face longtime rivals North Carolina and Virginia Tech in a tri-meet in Chapel Hill, N.C. The meet gets underway at noon at the Koury Natatorium on the UNC campus.
The Gamecock women (0-1, 0-1 SEC) are 4-9 all-time against the Tar Heels and hold an 11-2 advantage on the Hokies. On the men’s side, South Carolina (1-0, 1-0 SEC) is 9-17 in previous meetings with UNC but has a 13-1 series advantage against Virginia Tech.
The Gamecocks have been conference foes with both opponents – prior to 1971, the Gamecocks were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference with North Carolina; from 1984-1991, South Carolina was part of the Metro Conference with Virginia Tech.
North Carolina is 1-0 on both sides after defeating East Carolina’s men and women last Thursday in Greenville, N.C. Saturday’s meet will be the season opener for Virginia Tech.
South Carolina and North Carolina met in last year’s season opener on Oct. 17 in Columbia with the Tar Heels taking wins in both competitions. The UNC men won 184-115 while the Tar Heel women took a 176-124 victory. The last meeting with Virginia Tech came on Oct. 5, 2007, also in Columbia. That day, the Hokie men took a 191-108 victory – their first in the series – with the Tech women winning 176-124.
Carolina will look to improve on what was already a very successful home opener last week that saw the Gamecock men get their first SEC victory in three years, defeating Kentucky 160-140. A total of 18 newcomers got their first taste of Southeastern Conference swimming & diving in the meet. Ten men and eight women made their initial appearances as Gamecocks on Oct. 9, and several made an immediate statement. Bobby Cave won both the men’s 100 and 200 breaststroke, Michael Flach and Brooks Ross went 1-2 in the 500 and 1000 freestyle, Rylan Ridenour won the men’s 3-meter diving event, and junior transfer Courtney Forcucci took first place in 3-meter diving and second in the 1-meter event.
While no swimmers earned NCAA qualifying times in the Kentucky meet, four Carolina divers have already punched their ticket to NCAA Zone B regionals in March. Taryn Zack (312.30) and Courtney Forcucci (291.08) hit their marks first in 1-meter diving, while Allison Barr (283.20) met the standard in the 3-meter event. Freshman Rylan Ridenour earned his first Zone score with a 343.65 in men’s 3-meter diving, as well.
Live results for Saturday’s meet will be available through North Carolina’s official web site, tarheelblue.com.
